Saturday, August 06, 2011

Texas-sized Prayers to God - Gov. Perry

With a final stadium count exceeding 30,000, a day-long prayer and fasting celebration in Houston focused believers on America's dire condition, while accepting fault both individually and collectively as Christians, but secular media focused on their nemesis Rick Perry -- a Christian leader emerging as the next President of the United States.

Thousands of people attending Saturday's prayer rally in Texas seemed oblivious to the controversy surrounding the event as they focused all their attention on glorifying one name – Jesus.

Despite the controversy, Luis Cataldo, director of the event, was happy to see a largely filled stadium Saturday morning, especially considering that organizers never advertised any speakers or even a program.

"The church is gathered to honor one name, one kingdom, one rulership – the kingdom of Jesus, the name of Jesus. Only the name of Jesus," said Cataldo, who serves at International House of Prayer in Kansas City.

Cataldo stressed, "We're not here to blame others ... or to cause other people to do what we need to do."

A band complete with guitars, keyboards and drums led the crowd in hours' worth of contemporary Christian praise music. Members of the audience swayed and danced euphorically, their arms lifted upward as they sang along with the youthful musicians on stage.

Leaders frequently asked the audience to break into small prayer groups, while those on stage and in the audience described a country overwhelmed by problems.

Many in the audience said Perry had little to do with their decision to come. Still, the event put him, at least for a day, squarely in the middle of evangelical America, a community that will play a key role in the 2012 Republican presidential campaign. Perry is expected to enter that race later this month.

Many in the audience said a belief that prayer would solve the country's problems motivated them to attend.

He asked Christians to turn to God for answers to the nation's troubles, and asked the audience to pray for President Barack Obama — though he did not use the Democratic incumbent's name — as well as for the American troops killed in the weekend attack on a U.S. helicopter in Afghanistan.

Perry's audience Saturday was filled with people who sang with arms outstretched in prayer — and wept — as Christian groups played music on stage. And Perry, himself, huddled on the stage in a prayer circle with several ministers who helped lead the event. It was Perry's idea and was financed by the American Family Association, a Tupelo, Miss.-based group that opposes abortion and gay rights and believes that the First Amendment freedom of religion applies only to Christians.

To applause, Perry gave his view of a "personal God" whose "agenda is not a political agenda. His agenda is a salvation agenda." The governor added, with a chuckle, "He is a wise, wise God, and he’s wise enough to not be affiliated with any political party."

. . . Perry and other speakers were careful to avoid overt partisan appeals and the governor’s office said taxpayer money wasn’t used to put on the event, which was financed by the American Family Assn. of Tupelo, Miss.

"Father, our heart breaks for America. We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see anger in the halls of government and, as a nation, we have forgotten who made us, who protects us, who blesses us, and for that, we cry out for your forgiveness," said Perry, praying with hands clasped.

"Father, we pray for our president, that you would impart your wisdom upon him, that you would guard his family," the governor said. "You call us to repent, Lord, and this day is our

“Like all of you,” Perry told the crowd as he opened his remarks, “I Iove this country deeply. Thank you all for being here — indeed the only thing that you love more is the living Christ.”

The prayer gathering had over 8,000 registered attendees - a number that could have seemed small inside the 71,000-seat Reliant Stadium here, where the Texans NFL team plays.

But far more people showed up . . .

The crowd was diverse in race and age. English-language prayers were overlaid with a Spanish translation. People came with their families - a kids’ area was set up in the Jose Cuervo Cantina on the stadium’s south side - and teens and young adults came by themselves or with their churches. Many attendees brought well-worn Bibles stacked with notations or stowed in well-worn cases.

“I’m so humbled to be in the midst of men and women who have answered the call to prayer and fast for our nation. I want to especially thank brother C.L. Jackson who’s standing here with me and a great man of God, and Alice Patterson. They both have been with me and praying with me and supported me through the years. And pastor, we stood in your church one day and we got on our knees in a moment of powerful prayer and I just thank you both for being here with me.

“Like all of you, I love this country deeply, thank you all for being here. Indeed the only thing that you love more is the living Christ. But our hearts do break for those who suffer, those afflicted by the loss of loved ones, the pain of addiction, the strife that they may find at home, those who have lost jobs, who have lost their homes, people who have lost hope. Those that cannot see the light in the midst of all the darkness. Because we know a loving God, we know the greatest darkness comes just before the morning. We know, we know a loving God and we know the darkness that he takes care of and wipes away. We know that there is hope for those who trust in him who fills our hearts with joy and gives us life. This God who knows our imperfections, he didn’t leave us to live a life in our sins, but paid the price for them. He who knew no sin, he gave his life in ransom for me. This loving, this loving and perfect God is also a personal God. He desires not a show of religion, but a deep connection with our innermost being.

“His agenda is not a political agenda, his agenda is a salvation agenda. Brother C.L., you and I have had this conversation. He’s a wise, wise God, and he’s wise enough to not be affiliated with any political party, or for that matter, he’s wise enough to not be affiliated with any man-made institutions. He’s calling all Americans, of all walks of life, to seek him, to return to him, to experience his love and his grace and his acceptance, experience a fulfilled life regardless of the circumstances. I want you to join with me as I share his word with you:”

“As I finish I want to ask each of you to bow your head in prayer, or go to that position of prayer, and pray with us. Lord, you are the source of every good thing, you are our only hope. And we stand before you today in awe of your power, and in gratitude for your blessings, in humility for our sins. Father our heart breaks for America. We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see angers in the halls of government. And as a nation we have forgotten who made us, who protects us, who blesses us, and for that we cry out for your forgiveness. We pray for our nation’s leaders, Lord, for parents, for pastors, for the generals, for governors, that you would inspire them in these difficult times. Father we pray for our president, that you would impart your wisdom upon him, that you would guard his family. We pray for our military and the families who love them. Father especially, for those special operators who lost their life yesterday in defending our freedoms. You call us to repent, Lord, and this day is our response. We give it all to you. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. And amen.”